Advisory: Limited Glenwood Canyon Recreational Use July 18-22

GLENWOOD CANYON—The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the White River National Forest announce delayed launch times on the Colorado River Glenwood Canyon put-ins from 4 a.m. to noon, Monday, July 18 to Friday, July 22.

Several put-ins along the Colorado River will be closed, including Shoshone, Grizzly Creek, No Name, and other downriver put-ins along Glenwood Canyon and near Glenwood Springs. River access west of the Grand Avenue Bridge project will be open. The river restrictions are required to ensure public safety when setting the steel girder section of the new Grand Avenue pedestrian bridge over the Colorado River.

Additionally, Shoshone and Grizzly Creek rest areas will be temporarily closed to all public use from midnight to noon on Monday, July 18 to Friday, July 22. The No Name, Hanging Lake and Bair Ranch rest areas will remain open.

"The rest area closures are necessary to ensure public safety as the contractor continues erecting the steel girders for the Grand Avenue pedestrian bridge," said Tom Newland, CDOT project public information manager. "The girder span over the Colorado River requires CDOT to close the river to all recreational use at the Grand Avenue Bridge until noon. The good news is there are no weekend river closures."

The Glenwood Canyon bike path along the Colorado River will remain open. The Grizzly Creek trail will be closed until noon.

At midnight, Monday, July 18, motorists parked at Shoshone or Grizzly Creek will be asked to leave, and any unoccupied vehicles will be towed. I-70 access both eastbound and westbound to Grizzly Creek rest area will be closed, as well as the eastbound access for Shoshone rest area. Residential access to No Name will remain open. Motorists should anticipate a westbound one-lane closure near Grizzly Creek.

Public River Use Opens at Noon

At noon all Colorado River put-ins will be open to the public. The White River National Forest is allowing permitted commercial companies to launch at Shoshone and take out at Grizzly Creek in the morning with conditional terms (run circuits from Shoshone to Grizzly Creek). No private boating will be allowed before noon, and flaggers will be monitoring these sites.

Daily Phone Conference Briefings

Daily phone conference briefings will be held at 3 p.m. throughout the project. The conference call will announce river updates and any schedule changes associated with Colorado River launch delays. The Colorado River conference call number is: 218-339-7800 Access Code: 230 0335.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
The Colorado River at the Grand Avenue Bridge is faster than previous years because of temporary encroachments created by the project. Be safe and aware before using the river. For more information on river safety and causeway construction watch this safety video.